August 14th, 2012 - IRVINE, Calif., (July 23, 2012) –Toyota Material Handling U.S.A., Inc.’s (TMHU) lift trucks have been ranked number one, for the eighth year in a row, for quality and value in a study conducted by Peerless Research Group in conjunction with Modern Materials Handling magazine.

In the category of lowest cost of ownership, the company took top billing for the second consecutive year. No other lift truck manufacturer has ranked number one in quality, value or lowest cost of ownership since the study’s inception in 2004(1).

Cost of ownership, according to Peerless Research, represents the potential related expenses of a lift truck, in addition to the acquisition cost, including financing, depreciation, insurance, fuel consumption, downtime, maintenance and repairs. Quality is determined by the factors considered most important when operating a lift truck, which include reliability, technical development, durability and flexibility in maneuvering.

"Material handling customers are savvy about features that save them time and money," said Jeff Rufener, president of TMHU. "Having them rank Toyota forklifts highest in quality and value, and lowest in cost of ownership, further validates our proven record of high productivity and performance."

Peerless Research Group surveyed 418 qualified respondents involved in the purchasing of material handling equipment. Respondents represented companies from a wide range of industries, including: food and beverages; automotive and transportation; and fabricated metals and industrial machinery.